These four boxes where made in Japan in the 18th century, maybe on order of the baron Van Tuyll van Serooskerken, the owner of Zuylen Castle. The Dutch East India Company, who had the sole permission of the Japanese shogunate to trade with Japan, but under the strictest conditions, carried out these commands, hence the name Japon de Commande. The two boxes on the left aren’t part of the Zuylenburgh Collection but belong to Mr. Frits Van Tuyll van Serooskerken, by whose permission they can be seen here. They were restored by the Amsterdam antiquarians Fijnaut.
